Saturday's roundup

Saturday's roundup

November 23, 2008

Find full reports on each of these games plus photo galleries and a complete rundown of the semifinals at chicagotribune.com/prepsplus

St. Francis 21, Kankakee 20 (5A): St. Francis (12-1), which finished 3-6 last season, advanced to its first-ever championship game after surviving a late Kankakee rally. RB Jalon Banks' 5-yard TD run with 2 minutes 55 seconds left pulled visiting Kankakee (9-4), which had trailed 21-7, within a point. But Ivan Varela's game-tying extra-point attempt bounced off the left goal post. Tony Vargyas' interception with 1:15 remaining sealed the victory. RB Mark Kachmer scored the three Spartans touchdowns on runs of 1, 6 and 8 yards, and he added a two-point conversion run. Backfield mate Stan Bobowski finished with 127 yards on 24 carries. "Who would have thought we'd be here after last season?" Kachmer said.

Aurora Christian 29, Richmond-Burton 20 (4A): QB Jordan Roberts threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns to lead the visiting Eagles into the Class 4A championship game. Roberts' first touchdown pass, a 74-yarder to David Zielke, tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter. His last, a 44-yarder to Matt Morse, put Aurora Christian ahead for good at 27-20 with 1:25 left in the third quarter, and defensive end Andru Ubert was credited with a safety with 3:13 left in the game to seal the victory. The Eagles will face unbeaten Bloomington Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday in Champaign.

Prep Bowl playoffs

Loyola 23, De La Salle 7: QB Lucas Ruske threw for 120 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 54 yards, and Loyola limited De La Salle (8-5) to 148 total yards to win the Catholic League championship in Wilmette. The Ramblers (10-3) will face Lane in Friday's Prep Bowl at Soldier Field. Two first-half field goals by Leo Sheridan and Ruske's 15-yard scoring pass to TE Joseph Gross gave Loyola a 13-0 halftime lead. Sheridan added a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter, and RB M.J. Puch scored on a 1-yard run with 6:07 left in the game to cap Loyola's scoring. De La Salle QB Tom Lally's 50-yard touchdown run with 3:09 left spoiled Loyola's shutout bid.

Lane 24, Hubbard 7: Lane won the Public League championship at Hanson Stadium and advanced to its first Prep Bowl since 2004. After the teams battled to a 7-7 halftime tie, Lane's defense and special teams sparked three scores in the decisive third quarter. LB Gregory Walker sacked Hubbard QB Quincy Skanes for a 10-yard loss at Hubbard's 3, forcing a punt. Lane (11-2) took over on the Hubbard 22, and RB Luis Negron's 1-yard TD run seven plays later gave Lane a 14-7 lead. During the ensuing series, Lane DL Anthony Jantke recovered a fumble on the Hubbard 12, which led to a 28-yard field goal by Carlos Dominguez. DL Andre Alvarez recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone with :57 left to cap the scoring. Hubbard finished 10-3.